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It was a fourth place finish for Joan Barreda, and sixth for Hélder Rodrigues in the sixth stage of the Dakar 2014, which finished on Friday in the city of Salta, Argentina. Both riders will be poised to attack from good positions when the the second part of the rally recommences.

Joan Barreda finished in fourth place in the transition stage, taking no chances in the limited visibility and clouds of dust produced by the competitors up ahead. In doing so, the Spanish rider consolidates his position, and will be looking to push hard when the second week of the Rally Dakar gets underway.

"We made it to the half-way point at the rally here in Salta," Barreda reported. "We are happy, but it certainly hasn’t been an easy week, with a few problems, particularly yesterday. Friday was a day for catching the group ahead. It was really difficult to overtake with the fesh-fesh, but it worked out and we will be setting off with the leading group on Sunday’s Salta – Bolivia stage. We’ll be giving it our best."

Helder Rodrigues stated how difficult it had been to gain any precious seconds on his rivals. It had been a blessing to the other riders to have started out in front. Rodrigues finished in sixth and moves up into eighth overall position. Argentino Javier Pizzolito crossed the line in 29th place.

"Another day at the Dakar," Portugal´s Rodrigues said. "The first part has finished. Today was a very technical day with a lot of dust and loads of dangerous curves. It was a very different special. They have been very quick and very dusty. The second special was really fast... and not so fast. Where you don’t really gain anything, but you can lose everything. Sixth in today’s standings isn’t bad. We shall fight on."

It was a pass with honours for the riders from Honda Argentina Rally Team, Laia Sanz and ‘Cacha’ Rodríguez who continue in the race. Laia Sanz, who picked up a one-hour penalty for missing a waypoint, Friday made up for the places dropped in the overall standings and is now back in 20th place. Pablo Rodríguez, not wanting to take any chances after a fall on Thursday, took it calmly and finished in 43rd.